Needle-weaving attachment for webbing looms



Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,728

F. E. FOWLER ET AL NEEDLE WEAVING ATTACHMENT FOR WEBBING LOOMS Filed Sept. 1. 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 1 171' Z I /S Farr/3'15 Eur/er 8* h I'I/iam/Z 521/752" lNVENTOR W4 BY W WITNESS: W Z2 ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1928'. 1,659,728 F. E. FOWLER ET AL NEEDLE WEAVING ATTACHMENT FOR WEBBING LOOMS Filed Sept. 1. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY FebQZl, 1928.

F. E. FOWLER ET AL NEEDLE WEAVING ATTACHMENT FOR WEBBING LOOMS Filed Sept. 1. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY WlTNEsS:

- Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK E. FOWLER AND WILLIAM A. FOWLER, OF ATHENS, GEORGIA, ASSIGNORS OI ONE-THIRD T PAUL KELLER, OF CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA.

NEEDLE-WEAVING ATTACHMENT FOR WEIBBING LOOMS.

Application filed September 1, 1926. Serial No. 133,000.

The object of this invention is to render unnecessary the use of a shuttle and operating means therefor in the production 0 webbing or the like of moderate width, and to employ a particular form of needle movable thru the shed formed in the warp threads, this needle carrying the filler thread thru the shed, and returning to original position, sothat two parallel filling threads are supplied during each complete movement of-the needle.

A further object is to provide for return ing the filler thread by means of a selvage thread positioned prior to the return of the needle on its outward stroke.

A further object is to provide a particular form of needle and special means for handling the filler thread and selvage thread.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements described, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings'forming part of'this application,

Figure 1 is a view of the attachment in top plan.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation looln'ngfrom the left in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

,Figure 6 is a View partly in section showing means for mounting the spool for the selvage thread, this view illustrating a modification of the structure of Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 7 is a section on line 77 of Figure 6.

A casting 10 provides a main base for the attachment, permitting of the proper mounting thereof on the loom, and a casting 11 extending perpendicularly with reference to the casting first named, provides means for mounting the rotor and the operative devices connected therewith.

A light frame 13, secured to casting 10' provides means for supporting the webbing shown at 14, the warp threads of which are designated 15, these threads to be controlled for forming the shed, in the well known manner.

The needle is of special form, and the main portion thereof is designated 16, and formed therewith is a shank portion 17 pivoted at 18 to the casting 10, in the manner shown in Figure 3 which constitutes a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1. A connecting rod 19 is pivoted to shank 17 at the point 19, this rod being operated by the batten of the loom. The needle 16, is provided with openings at '20, 21 and 22, for the passage of the filler thread 24, this thread being supplied from a spool suitably mounted.

A large sector gear 25 is mounted on the casting 11. by means of a screw 26,.and is oscillated by rod 28 connected with the sector gear at 29.

The sector gear 25 carrying a series of teeth, meshes with the pinion or gear wheel 30 of the rotor designed to carry means for mounting a spool for the selvage thread 32, the latter passing thru the loop formed at the end of the inner stroke of the needle, and anchoring that portion-of the filler thread just within the margin of the webbing.

The rotor includes an element mounted in an opening providing a bearing in casting 11, annular plates or disks 36 and 37, retain ing the rotor in position. The gear wheel 30 is secured to the rotor as shown at 31, and a U-shaped' frame 38 having end portions 39 is secured to the rotating structure. This frame 38 provides for mounting a detachable spool 40 for the selvage thread designated 32, and already referred to. An axial pin or the like 41 receives one tubular end or hub portion 42 of the spool, and the opposite hub portion 43 is retained by a pin 44 held by a fiat resilient device 45. A flat spring 46 secured at 47 t0 the frame 38 provides tension for the selvage thread.

A modified form of spool holder for attachments of larger size is illustrated in Figures 6' and 7, and includes an inner frame member to be of U-form. this element being designated 50 and being firmly fixed to the rotor 35. as in the case of the form first ;described. An outer U-shaped frame 51 is pivotally connected with frame 50, as indicated at 52, and a pin or engaging lug 53 is carried by a fiat' spring 54 secured at 55 to element 51. A thread tensioning spring is designated 56, being secured at 57 and the ried by acradle 60 adapted to descend by gravity, as shown in Figure 6 and to receive a spool 61. This spool is carried by a spindle 62, and the latter passes thruor into tubular elements 63 formed on frame or cradle 60. The spindle 62 is mounted in a fixed position in frame 50, the spool is rotatable, and the cradle is adapted to swing about the axis defined by the spindle.

In replacing a spool the retaining device 53 mounted on spring 54 is released, and the frame element 51 is swung about the pivotal points 52, permitting cradle 60 to be removed with the empty spool. The sides of the cradle may then be spread slightly, and the spool removed. A full spool 1s inserted by reversing the operation. The cradle, being suspended, is free to swing or rock, but is retained by gravity, in its lower posit-ion, although it may turn completely over without causing any trouble with reference to the movement of the thread 32thru eyelet 58. i

The rotor 35 is provided with a cutaway portion 35', which may have a slight overhang, as shown at the left of Figure 2, to prevent slipping of the thread, and a slot 30 is cut in gear wheel 30, the inner wall of the cutaway portion being slightly beyond the series of teeth of the gear wheel 30. This prevents the filler thread from being caught by the teeth of the gear wheel, and permits the thread only to pass into the slot 30. The needle 16 is passed thru the warp threads, from right to left in Figure 1, by the backward stroke of the batten of the loom, in view of the connection therewith (not shown) effected by means of rod 19. The thread 24 is brought by needle 16 to the gap or cutaway portion in the rotor, near the point where slot 30' is cut in the gear wheel. The curvature of the needle permits or causes the thread to stand away from the straight portion of the needle, as shown in Figure 1.

The filler thread 24 having passed through the opening 35' of the rotor 35, as stated, will now be carried around by the rotor, and will pass around thread 32, because thread ,24 will tend to move in the path of the slotted edge portion of the rotor. Frame 38 also has a rotary movement, and the threads will engage each other by a twisting movement, selvage thread 32 passing between filler thread 24 and the needle.

Upon the further movement of the needle, which is a receding movement, or stroke toward the right in Figure 1, the thread 24,

will be carried thru the Warp threads, in adirection reverse to that in which it formerly passed, and two parallel threads will be inserted in the warp and retained by the selvage thread from spool 40. There will be sufficient tension on thread 24 to pull the selvage thread slightly into the edge of the webbing; The beating up of the *filler thread is elfected in the usual manner, and the operation is repeated indefinitely. The rotor 35 is'operated'by sector gear 25 and gear wheel 30, in timed relation to the movement of needle 16, suitable operative connections for this purpose being made with sector gear 25 thru rod or arm 28.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. In a stationary weft supply loom having means for supporting a series of war threads, a needle for passing a filler threa thru a shed formed by the warp threads, said needle including a portion adapted to extend transversely and having a deflected eye portion, the needle having a shank extending at an angle with the transverse portion, means for pivotally mounting the shank, a rotor having an opening thru which the filler thread is adapted to pass; a selvage thread spool mounting device carried by the rotor and moved by the rotor thru a loop formed adjacent to the deflected end of the needle, said spool mounting device including a cradle and a two part frame from which the cradle is detachable, one element of the frame being connected with the rotor and the other element being movable .angularly with reference to said element connected with the rotor.

2. In a stationary weft supply loom having means for supporting warp threads and a needle pivotally mounted for angular movement for passing a filler thread thru a shed; a frame member having a cutaway portion forming a bearing,arotor mounted in this bearing, devices carried by the frame for retaining the rotor in operative position within thebearing, a gear wheel carried by the rotor and concentric with its axis of r0- tation, means for oscillating the gear wheel, the rotor having an opening through which the filler thread is adapted to pass, a spoolframe rigidly mounted on the rotor, this frame and the gear wheel extending from opposite sides of the frame member providing the rotor bearing, the needle including an inturned end portion for positioning the filler thread in loop form, and the rotor FRANK E. FOWLER.

-WILLIAM A. owLER; I 

